After 6-10 years of mark-recapture observations, I studied seven desert tortoises by radio-telemetry during 1990-1992 in a desert-grassland community in Pinal County, Arizona. Six estimated home-range areas averaged 14.7 ha. Winter-spring (Nov-Jun) use areas (overline x=0.7 ha) were significantly smaller (P = 0.002) than summer-fall (Jul-Oct) use areas (overline x=10.7 ha). A correction formula inflated 1-2 summer-fall use areas of five tortoises 4-41% larger than their corrected home-range areas. Extended movements by females were significantly more frequent (P = 0.0001) than those of males during Mar-Jul, significantly less frequent (P = 0.0057) than males during Aug-Oct, and most frequent by both sexes in September. Use of two slopes and terraces was not season-dependent (P = 0.9159). Tortoises variably used four shelter types (rock, soil burrow, wood rat nest, vegetation), significantly with south-facing entrance aspects (P 0.0005). Hibernaculum structure and location varied. Hibernation ranged from 88-315 days. Radio-equipped tortoises included reuse of mark-recapture locations.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/278515 |
| Date | January 1995 |
| Creators | Martin, Brent Errol, 1952- |
| Contributors | Lowe, Charles H., Krausman, Paul R. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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